# NTSB IAD74FIA14: Bell 47D1, N919B, Stephens City, VA, May 8, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 8, 1974
- Place: Stephens City, VA · STEPHENS CITY, VA
- Location: 39.0958° N, 78.2170° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Stephens City, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0958&lon=-78.2170&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 14, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124287
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD74FIA14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74FIA14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1270   74/5/8    STEPHENS CITY,VA    BELL 47D1           CR-  0  0  2  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0440                    N919B               PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 47, 2900 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            400 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STEPHENS CITY,VA            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OIL EXHAUSTION-ENGINE LUBRICATION SYSTEM
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE ACCESSORIES: STARTERS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOOSE,PART/FITTING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - ANTI-FROST OPERATIONS
          KIND OF CROP - FRUIT ORCHARDS                            PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT                                 ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  890
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- FROST CONTROL OVER APPLE ORCHARD.STARTER END PLATE & ARMATURE FOUND UNDER ENG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N919B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N919B-2009-02-03), registration cancelled 2009-02-03, S/N 610, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6VS-335 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6vs-335-series) (registry code 27040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19740508012069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740508012069A), May 8, 1974: Bell 47D1, Stephens City, VA, Substantial damage. Frost control over apple orchard. Starter end plate & armature found under eng.

## Other investigations on N919B (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC76FGT27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC76FGT27), Aug 18, 1976: Bell 47D1 (N919B), Zion Grove, PA, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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